CHAPTER IV 



BREEDING 



THERE was an old saying that like produces like, 

 but experience tells us that this needs considerable 

 modification. It is perfectly true that the alliance 

 of a Fox Terrier sire and dam will produce Fox 

 Terrier puppies ; but it is altogether wrong to assume 

 that if one champion is mated with another the 

 progeny will be champions also ; they may not even 

 disclose many good points between the whole of 

 them, and the exercise of considerable skill is needed 

 to bring about a fusion of blood which will produce 

 the results at which we aim. As this book is 

 primarily intended for those whose knowledge is not 

 extensive I may be pardoned for stating what to 

 many are merely commonplaces. A champion dog 

 may occasionally appear in the litter as a happy 

 chance, or what we should term a " sport/* and the 

 probability is that he will not have the power to 

 reproduce his good qualities to any extent. The law 

 of heredity is inexorable, whether we obey it from 

 scientific knowledge or merely by rule of thumb. 

 When the uneducated man says that you must con- 

 sider what is at the back of a sire or dam, you 

 understand that he is stating in homely language 



Book of the Dog. 3 17 



